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Original poster

Low-spend July - anyone in?

84 replies

FrugalFashionista · 30/06/2015 19:11

Continuing the no-spend June thread.

Do you want to limit your S&B spending? This thread is for anyone who wants to spend as little as possible. Or perhaps you want to spend money on absolutely essential things, or stick to a budget?

Please join us and share your goals!

OP posts:
WhoisLucasHood · 02/07/2015 12:24

I'm bowing out. Bought a lumea yesterday so leapt off the wagon. See you next month.

missmoon · 02/07/2015 12:34

I'm in too, spent far too much in June with sales, new sandals, a clutch bag, a couple of dresses and even a jumpsuit Blush. In the past I've had some luck with a "cooling off" period, where if I feel I need something I give myself a couple of days to see if I can find an alternative among the stuff I already own. I'll hoping to stick to only buying replacements for essential beauty products that run out (such as moisturiser, cleanser, foundation etc.).

poppym12 · 02/07/2015 13:13

i'd like to at least try. i do have to pay my Next directory bill today so i suppose thats already wrecked july for me Blush

mowglik · 02/07/2015 15:17

I think I'll give myself a budget of £20 a week and things that need to be bought, e.g shampoo etc has run out don't count towards spending. We'll see if this is better than a no spend month

frankietwospots · 02/07/2015 21:29

I'm in (again). After a strong start in June, I fell off the wagon big style but I sold around £300 worth of clothes I don't wear. I've also returned about £200 worth of stuff (Boden sale!). I've got an order due to be collected from Jigsaw but intend to return it honest.

Twinklestar2 · 03/07/2015 23:00

I'm in again!

Today I went to Primark and grabbed a few things but then decided I didn't need them. They had some tops for £2 which would be great for basics, but did I really NEED them? No.

I also spotted some linen type shorts for a fiver - half the price of the ones I live in from sainsburys but they didn't look that great on, plus I would have to get a 14 in the Primark ones and I'm a 12 in sainsburys vain. Tbh I would rather see if the sainsburys ones go down in the sale.

Also put back a yellow sundress. I love yellow! Great for throwing on in the summer but I spent £20 on a white and yellow dress from GAP a couple of months ago which is much nicer so I'm going to wear that more instead. Grin

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/07/2015 08:55

I bought hair dye ( Superdrugs costs 2 for £7, so waaaaay less than a haidressers) and some hair conditioning mask (£2 Tesco)

I did buy a cardigan (yes Blush ) in H&M last week by IMD (In My Defence) it is dark bottle green which is my favourite colour.

July will be a Good Month

BlueberryMuffins76 · 04/07/2015 09:26

I'm in! I've lost 3 stone recently and have had a couple of months of needing clothes - but this month my budget says otherwise and I'm not going to buy any for the whoLe of July. I'm stocked up on beauty products although I will need shampoo, but that should be it.

ZaraW · 04/07/2015 09:35

Good luck to everyone I won't participate this month I'm on holiday in a couple of weeks time and I have to buy some camping equipment and other items of clothing I need for trip. Will definitely be in for next month.

I've just started mindfulness meditation which helps with compulsive personalities and hope this will help with my shopping urges.

SuperFlyHigh · 04/07/2015 10:01

Am I too late to join? I'm a shopaholic just got big pay rise due to job move and yes have splurged but I simply do not need more clothes and shoes!

Have just moved work to small street with very few shops and the bigger towns with shops are 5 mins by tube and 30 mins each way by train/bus.

I did get some skinny jeans in Oasis sales and a stripy top that I may or may not keep when in town and some sandals (as my too tight ones were hurting last Wednesday) but only need shampoo now.

Any ideas for how not to spend eg elastic band to ping on wrist etc? I almost feel like I need an electronic tag which beeps if it's a needless spend a bit extreme I know! Grin

ZaraW · 04/07/2015 10:34

SuperFly I have a separate bank account for holidays and I put my money allocated for shopping in there. Holidays make me happier than stuff which I have too much of. I'm taking my son to NY next year so I like to see the account go up rather than down so that has helped me a lot on buying stuff that gives me no pleasure once I receive it. I hope to pay for our apartment we are staying at by not shopping as much.

I find once you can control your spending for a month it becomes easier to say no to impulses.

SuperFlyHigh · 05/07/2015 07:24

Thanks zara that's the thing once mortgage etc is paid I've got a disposable income and more since pay rise.

I think I need to think about what and if I save for and have some goals that way. Learning or doing more pleasurable stuff also keeps my mind off spending so I'll look into that.

ZaraW · 05/07/2015 15:27

Good luck having a goal will help you focus.

Annarose2014 · 05/07/2015 16:01

Well I feel very chuffed with myself. Went into a pharmacy that had NYX, Pysicians Formula, Yon Ka, Dermalogica, Caudalie......all these scrumptious things - and I came out with a cheapie brow gel from Sleek that I actually needed as my old one ran out this week.

I feel very proud - so very many pretty things. They had gift sets of everything! They always get me cos you think "oh this must be good value" Hmm

It'd be absolutely fantastic if I only spent a fiver a week on goodies this month.

Roseybee10 · 05/07/2015 16:15

I just need to buy shampoo and a dress for a wedding and I am going to try not to buy anything else other than that this month.

AmethystMoon · 07/07/2015 07:01

Going for low spend July and pleased with my purchase yesterday. I've been after a pale grey cardigan for about 18 months but never seen anything I like that I was happy to pay the asking price for. Yesterday I found one in white company, merino wool and cotton, was £90, reduced to £55, I has a £20 gift voucher plus a code for additional 10% off of sale price. Mine for £28! And it's machine washable Grin

Itsalldramarama · 07/07/2015 11:19

Popped into boots for some Cetaphil cleanser and spf , had £25 in points ans a no 7 £5 off voucher so picked up some dragons blood serum to try , got the no7 spf ( impressed so far ) some nip and fab pads as I'm almost out and some hair defrizz cream .. So only a very low actual spend :) did have a lol for some slouchy cotton tees but couldn't find anything so will make do ... Don't really need anything so hopefully that's me done for July !!

Original poster
FrugalFashionista · 07/07/2015 12:19

I failed low-spend July (tempting cheap lipsticks, nail polishes, eye pencils and baked blushers at Kiko). The stuff serves as a souvenir though as everything is from our favorite beach town, and they did not cost much and seem really good quality. Also bought a gray ribbed vest top at Decathlon, worn multiple times already so it is a good basic. And I need to order some sheet masks as my stash is almost hone. But switching to no-spend July now, as I clearly cannot handle total freedom Wink

OP posts:
Annarose2014 · 07/07/2015 14:46

Lo-Buy July continues with a needed product - a face primer. But mindful of this thread, I decided to buy the cheapest one I could find, a Wet n Wild one for under a fiver.

I'm going to try to make that the only purchase this week. I know its only Tuesday, but it'd make me feel brilliant if I kept going.

Lambzig · 07/07/2015 19:49

Oh I am in again please. I managed not yo spend in June, but this week I have bought a dress from Finery (only £15) and a pair of sandals from TK Maxx that I didn't need, but we're the perfect tan flats for when my current ones are thrown away at the end of summer. No beauty spend except my haircut.

I need to not buy anything further for me now this month.

Huge house renovation going on here and I just spent an horrific amount of money on tiles at the Fired Earth factory shop.

Coastingit · 07/07/2015 20:15

Confession time - I bought a drapey navy tee and a lovely silver long double necklace with pale blue droplets I'd lusted after full price, both in Monsoon sale 50% off today Blush total spend £20.

And a set of undies because an evil MNer linked to a rather fabulous sale, a raspberry balconette bra and thong set by masquerade for a total of £10.50.

I am rubbish at not spending when bargains occur, it's so easy to justify both of the purchases but at the same time I wouldn't miss them had I not bought them iyswim Sad

Coastingit · 07/07/2015 20:16

Oh and a lovely silver and blue lace Wonderbra from TK Maxx for £8...

That's all I promise! And nothing else for rest of month now.

Greenstone · 07/07/2015 21:51

Still in personally, but bought some bits for the dds last week, not expensive and needed but could technically have done without. 2 new pairs of cheap shoes for dd1 which was a total false economy as got the wrong size. Will have to take her to get measured now and get some decent shoes on her!

Twinklestar2 · 08/07/2015 23:14

£20 spent on a pedicure today which was much needed!

I've started a thread on the food and recipes board about a low spend July on food, if anyone fancies joining?

Annarose2014 · 09/07/2015 12:55

Well I fell off the wagon after a crisis of confidence over my post-baby belly. Went into Next & bought 3 items, which will all hopefully be slimming.

Also bought a face serum - the Vichy Aqualia one, which is fab. I got a free full size face cleanser as a gift with purchase which was good. Still doesn't cancel out my spendiness though!

Right. No more purchases for the rest of the month.